I return to my place.
The people were arguing as they had seen Callian accept the handkerchief I had given him. I looked at them and smiled.
âAs planned.â
This way, wonât people know that Callian and I have a better relationship? And I also succeeded in getting Fleur angry.
âOh, itâs cool inside.â
I could feel my ten-year-old congestion going down. Smiling, I swept down my chest.
âHow did you make His Highness accept the handkerchief?â Jasmine asked.
She didnât seem to hear the whispering conversation because she was standing behind.
I replied casually.
âWe made a deal.â
âDeal?â
âYes. To be exact, itâs the most threatening deal.â
Hohoho. I smiled low and raised my chin.
âWhat about Count Cardal?â
âSheâs over there.â
There was a group of people where Jasmine pointed. There was Fleur and the Grand Duchess.
âSheâs with Fleur.â
Hmm.
I narrowed my eyes.
Seeing that Countess Cardel had a perplexed face, it seemed that Fleur and the Grand Duchess were forcibly holding her. If it were a place like that, I might as well join it.
I approached them with dignified steps.
âHello, Duchess.â
First of all, I greeted the Grand Duchess. And then I greeted the other Lady lightly.
âItâs been a while since I saw you all.â
âAhâHello. Duchess.â
âItâs nice to see you, Duchess.â
People answered with bitter faces. Among them was Angela, who was recently scolded by me. Seeing that she was stuck next to Fleurâs side, it was as if she had completely turned to her side.
Tsk. Tsk.
She didnât even know it was the wrong choice.
I turned my gaze away from Angela and looked at Countess Cardel.
âI was looking for the Countess. Thereâs still something to talk about with me.â
âYes?â
Countess Kadel opened her eyes in surprise, then nodded with a sigh. She had noticed my intentions.
âThatâs right. I had something to talk to the Duchess. So I canât stay here any longer. Iâm sorry.â
Countess Cardel, who did not look sorry at all, smiled and crossed her arms at me.
Thatâs how we tried to go back. Until Fleur opens her mouth.
âItâs a pity. I was just about showing the ladies the perfume I got as a gift.â
Perfume?
I tilted my head because it was out of the blue.
âThe Duchess also likes perfume, right?â
Did I?
In the original story, Opheliaâs taste was never mentioned, so I have no way of knowing. I rolled my eyes.
âIt must be a perfume that suits your taste. Do you want to try it?â
Fleur had Angela hold the bottle of perfume to me.
If she smiles like this kindly here and holds out a bottle of perfume, do they think Iâll say, âOh. Is that so?â
âI guess you havenât heard that my taste has changed.â
I took a step back and frowned.
âI donât like perfume anymore.â
âYes? Butââ
âSo donât worry. You guys can do it on your own.â
I pushed Angelaâs perfume bottle out and said.
Then the Grand Duchess opened her axeâs eyes and looked at me.
âYouâre such a wicked woman to refuse Fleurâs favor.â
Why do you call a wicked woman for something like this?
I couldnât believe it, so I laughed in vain.
âDonât you think favor doesnât always mean you have to accept it. I donât like it so I donât like it. Whatâs the problem?â
âAfter talking back and forth. Someday, that high nose bridge will definitely break.â
âMy nose is so high that it wonât be easily bent. Anyway, thank you for complimenting my pretty nose.â
I could see the face of the Grand Duchess getting red. With a smooth face like a grain of rice and a red fever, it looks like a sweet potato. But if I say it like this, theyâll get mad, right? So I kept my mouth shut.
âThen, Iâll leave.â
And I tried to leave with Countess Cardel and Jasmine.
It was then.
âOh my!â
Splash!
The perfume bottle broke right in front of me. Angela, who was holding a perfume bottle, missed her hand. The dress is soaked.
The smell that was really sweet poked my nose. Itâs a strong scent enough to bring a headache.
âI, Iâm sorry Countess! My hand lost it!â
Angela bowed her head toward Fleur with a pale face.
âNo, itâs okay. I can buy perfume again anytime. Are you hurt?â
Fleur replied kindly, as always.
Thatâs why I was even more absurd. Iâm the one whoâs hurt right now, so why are they playing with each other?
âI think itâs right to ask about my safety first.â
I said, looking down at the soaked dress.
âIâm soaked in the smell of perfume that I donât even like.â
âOh my.â
Fleur sighed while covering her mouth with a fan.
âWhat to do, do you want a handkerchief?â
I looked directly at Fleur. Beyond the oblique fan, I could see her smiling. Something feels strange. I bit my lower lip and stared at Fleur.
âI think youâd better wash your hands, Madam.â
Countess Cardel said as she pulled me in to restrain me.
Yeah.
No matter how strange it was, I couldnât say anything here without evidence. Furthermore, I didnât want to talk to the Grand Duchess anymore.
âYeah. That would be good.â
So I tried to leave with the help of Countess Cardel. Then, I glanced at Angela.
âWas it a mistake?â
Ugh! Angela breathed heavily and gathered her shoulders.
âY, yes. It was a mistake. Iâm sorry.â
I blinked slowly. I couldnât say anything when she was talking like this, so I clicked my tongue and responded briefly.
âI hope it wasnât intentional.â
But in my words, Angelaâs face turned white. And Fleurâs hand, holding a fan, trembled.
As expectedâ.
âSomethingâs weird.â
I left my place feeling uncomfortable.
*****
Shoot!
Callian shot an arrow at the monsterâs head. The monster fell down and died. Callian removed the mana core embedded in the monsterâs chest and put it in his pocket.
âHuu.â
He looked around.
It seems that all of the nearby low-level monsters have been killed. In fact, it would be nice to have a stronger monster, but in a hunting contest like today, it was difficult to face a stronger monster.
This is because monsters are thoughtful creatures, so if they know they will be attacked, they will hide. Thatâs why he only catch these stupid, low-level monstersâ.
âIs it roughly thirty?â
If this was enough, it seemed that the first place in the hunting competition was obvious. So Callian moved more leisurely.
It was then.
âYouâre here, Your Highness.â
A familiar voice was heard. When he turned his head, Sylvester was standing there. With blood on the other half of his face!
âDid you kill someone?â
Callian asked in surprise. Sylvester let out a low laugh.
âI donât kill anyone in situations where I would be suspected like this. This is the blood of a monster.â
Well. Sylvester was a man who could kill people as much as he wanted without getting his hands dirty. In other words, there is no way to kill people in such an obvious situation.
Callian tried to calm down and looked at Sylvester.
âWhatâs the matter? I know that conversations between each other are prohibited during the competition.â
âThereâs no one nearby anyway, right?
Sylvester approached Callian with a shrug.
âI came because I wanted to ask you something.â
âSay it.â
Callian replied.
âWhat do you think about Ophelia?â
âI hate her.â
Callian replied immediately. As soon as that, he thought. No matter what, Ophelia is still the Duchess. How can he swear at a Duchess? Later, he could have found fault with his words. Callian swallowed a bitter breath.
But Sylvesterâs expression was strange. He had a smile that looked like something happy.
What is it?
Why is he making such an expression?
Callian hesitated.
âI see. You hate her.â
Sylvester rubbed his blood-stained chin.
âI hope you continue to hate her.â
What is this crazy guy?
Callian couldnât understand Sylvesterâs thoughts at all. There seems to be something up, but he doesnât know what it isâ. Callian narrowed his eyes.
âBut strangely, doesnât it seem like you canât see monsters?â
Sylvester turned around. Callian turned his gaze away and replied back.
âAll of them must be hiding because thereâs a hunting contest.â
âBut last year, it wasnât this bad.â
Sylvester crossed his arms with âhmmâ sounds.
âItâs weird.â
It was then.
âKyaaak!â
A scream came from somewhere.
Is that the other participants who participated in the hunting contest?
Meanwhile, Sylvester and Callian realized at the same time that it was a voice they had heard many times.
âOphelia?â
âOphelia?â
They made eye contact with each other. It was Sylvester who ran first.
âOphelia!â
Callian blinked slowly as he looked at Sylvester, who was running in a hurry. âThatâ Sylvester is so flustered like this?
No wayâ.
Callianâs lips rose roundly.
Because he thought this might be fun.